Sale Folk Club

Newsletter No 23 - 31 March 2009

An interesting night with the news that Alan has now purchased a computer and our old friend Richard Gray paid us a visit for the first time. He had realised that the club had started up but has been very busy so found it impossible, until now, to come and see us. The first of many we hope and he hopes to be back in about a month's time.

The evening started pretty slowly, which was unusual since there was only a handful of people in up until 8.30 pm, however the very professional John Muskett stepped into the breach, I have been dying to say that, and his turn came around again so quickly that we all joked that it was like his gig! A good few of the stalwarts, like Rob, Eric, Richard and Stella, were missing so there was less backchat until at 9.15 pm the door suddenly became extremely busy and the audience suddenly filled up and a few more performers arrived.

Richard Gray, Bernice, Lorraine and Isobel all pitched up and the night took off. Another was our old friend Gus who did a big spot at Lymm sometime ago. An excellent guitar player with a lovely voice we were glad to see him.

On an even more cheerful note, it was both Bernice's and Carl's birthday, so they shared a bottle of champagne that John Condy had brought, and a gentleman in the audience, who won the bath bombs in the raffle, gave them to Bernice as a birthday gift, which was really sweet of him. Needless to say we all sang Happy Birthday to John Muskett's accompaniment.

Pepper Street sang Lorelei, Wall of Death and Boats to Build by Guy Clark, Ed dug deep for Al Bowly's In Heaven by Richard Thompson, Handsome Cabin Boy and my favourite Jacuzzi Joe the gigolo with the Funky Concertina, John look out. Early mainstay John Muskett sang Roddy McAuley, Last Train & Ride by R McTell and Come Take a Trip in My Airship before Kath & Stan did that favourite Ring Ring the Banjo, New York Girls and Sleepy Desert. Zoe Mulford, hard at work on her next album, tested us with Blue Eyed Jane by Michael Reno Carroll, Oh the Wind & Rain and Someday the Sun's Gonna Shine a composition of her own.

At this point people were wondering if Rob had got a sick note or whether he was just sick of us or even worse whether he was out on an internet date?!?!? Carl couldn't have cared less as he gave us Dandelion Clocks by his idol Jez Lowe and All at Sea, his own composition before finishing with Safe in the Harbour, Eric Bogle's tribute to Stan Rogers. Weymouth Dick was gladly back again with The Week Before Easter followed by Three Sober Punters and Poor Man's Work is Never Done.

By now needing no introduction, Isobel mesmerised us with Stomach Steinway Man, an untitled tune with The Rope Waltz, ending with Church and Bonny Kate. Anne was again in good voice with Rosemary Lane, Johnny Todd and Down in Albert Square. Not to be serious for too long, Derrick told us Admiral Nelson's Message, which was Derrick's take on health & safety, followed by a Naughty Little Poem. Gus Glynn, an Irishman himself sang about The Children of Leir, a song about an ancient Irish legend followed by The Sunset & the Deep Blue Sea,
Under the Radar and The Piper all written by himself setting somewhat of a record.

Paying her second visit from down the Mersey, Lorraine did the Bette Midler classic The Rose by Brian O'Rourke, El Condor Paso and Blanket on the Ground by Dolly Parton. Richard Gray also has an impressive list of his own compositions and he didn't disappoint us with Help is on the Way and My Own Sweet Home followed by Waterbound by Dirk Powell.


Newsletter No 22 - 24 March 2009

A few surprises greeted regulars to the acoustic night when several new faces turned up to delight us with their songs and skill. Weymouth Dick, stalwart of Full Circle was here for the first time and started off with Brown and Yellow Ale which he said was weird but we thought more haunting. Nothing Better To Do followed and it was nice to see Dick again for those who knew him. John Condy was the first resident up and didn't let us down with Star Of The County Down and Across The Borderline by Ry Cooder. He later provided some stunning improvisation, Eric's words, on guitar in accompanying Eric on Blue Blood Donor Blues, a tragic tale of impotence

Mick led the DIY brigade, otherwise known as singer songwriters, with Bridge St and She Belongs To Me, both autobiographical and damned good. Carl joined in with Nights Round The Tables and Ruth again stepped up to the plate with Letting Sorrow Go after which she declared and was too modest to do a second. Inspired by this Ed gave us The Tinkerman's Daughter, known to some as Red Deaded Dan before normal scatological service was resumed with Sh. Ged was his lively self with Step It Up & Go but The Last Minstrel Song told it's own story. Carl's Old Bones by Jez Lowe summed life up nicely before Colin Rudd with Mr Bojangles closed first half with a swing

Colin's The Coast Is My Commander was his own song and very evocative too showing how much he misses Wales now that he's back in sunny Manchester. Norah Jones' Blues, by his son, contained some well-aimed barbs at pop culture. Jan's lovely voice did justice to The Hare And The Raven and So Here's To You before Mark livened things up with Bonny Ship and Whisky In The Jar. Rob Fathom(ed) The Bowl and sailed The Good Ship Calibar after returning from his skiing trip. It was even colder in Robin's North To Alaska but warmed considerably to I Still Miss Someone by Johnny Cash.

Another newcomer Howard, just visiting his sister Ros and by now back home in Philippines! borrowed Robin's guitar 'cos Carl's strap was too short but Carl's pick cos Robin's was too soft, God knows whose capo he ended up with, sang No Man's Land by Eric Bogle, and The Collier Lad by Johnny Handle. More new people, who we met recently and invited over, Pat Sherry and Stuart Douglas from Bradford sang and played brilliantly on Raglan Road by Pat Cavanagh and Fiddler's Cross by Bob Pegg, selling your soul to Devil, as you do. We were so impressed that we found room for four more to finish off the evening and they were My Keel Lad (J. Lowe arrangement), Waters of Tyne, Vincent Black Lightning, almost as good as Zoe's banjo version and The hangman, a jolly Yorkshire tale to send us trembling to our beds.

Anne delighted us with The Sign Of The Bonny Blue Bell about a shepherdess who finds herself with child, and Jack In The Green. Then Eric did his usual wih She and I, a translation of a Jacques Brel song [La Fanette] about a loser in love. Ros who sang to Don's robust accompaniment on her first visit was prevailed upon to do it unaccomplished this time. A Miner's Lullaby and Bonny Bessie Logan were both Scottish airs.

Most remarkably Carl won the raffle and chose the Folk Northwest Magazine! A surprising choice with alternatives of an accordion DVD, Uncle Joe's Mint Balls, a bottle of Wine, chocolates and a Garva CD?!?!


Newsletter 21 - 17 March 2009

GARVA were another sell-out making it THREE IN A ROW on ST PATRICK'S NIGHT - 17 March. GARVA had a very successful 10 year spell at the top of the British Folk Scene and even made several very rewarding sorties into Europe being extremely popular in Holland and recording a CD there. The reformed GARVA, were led as usual by Tony Gibbons who treated us to some old favourites like Taglione and gave a masterly display on the cittern. John Murphy, a legendary Uilean piper, banjo and mandolin player, had recently returned from Ireland where he was playing four nights a week but only on banjo so it was a delight to hear the full range of his talents not least his great singing like on Wichita. Steve Higham the other lead singer, who replaced Shay Black early in the original band's career, also reminded us of his talent with Song For The Life and Reconciliation and his anchoring of the band on guitar. Kevin Webster, a world champion melodeon player who was at his sublime best, and now John's son Liam Murphy played Uilean pipes and D whistle to complete the perfect lineup for an Irish Band. Liam even duetted with his dad giving us the rare experience of two world class Uilean pipers performing on the same stage. All round round an excellent evening made even better by the first class O'Holroyd's Irish Stew and the GUINNESS and LAGER promotions. http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/webrevs/red008.htm

Next week's raffle will include a Garva CD which is a very rare item so be in to win!!!!!!!!!


Newsletter No 20 - 10 March 2009

It was good to again see so much talent on another great acoustic night and it was nice to welcome Stewart Lever from the Lymm Folk Club for he first time and even see him win on the raffle. A little later Ged was moved to say that the evening was so charged he wanted some of the pills everyone was taking. Just talent Ged and you've got your fair share.

John Musket opened the evening powerfully with the Dubliner's version of Love It Is Pleasing and later sang a medley of Fats Waller songs, Ain't Misbehaving, When Somebody Thinks You're Wonderful and Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter. The bum spot went to Don and Heather who kept the sing along going with Bad Moon Rising. Michael then took us to the Streets of New York and later finally decided on singing Did Your Mother Come from Ireland? Following Ed's dedication of a Morris Dancing Song to Richard a fortnight ago, Richard retaliated by singing a funny song dedicated to Ed about the Scout Movement called Follow Me and then later got us to raise the roof and a glass with Jones' Ale.

A change of mood saw Accordion John playing a Swiss/German Medley of tunes and then two-thirds of Pepper Street, Mick & John ,sang the Mason/Dixon Line before being joined by Bernice for Wall of Death. Later John & Mick sang Killing the Blues. Ged kept up the American connection with How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live? and Moon Going Down both delivered in great style. Jan & Mark then made a triumphant return with Thirty-foot Trailer, a Welsh song from Jan called Mollyanna and finally a self-penned song Rowan's Lament about the felllng of trees which formed their once nice view in the garden opposite. Kath & Stan sympathised with Shady Grove and a Carter Family song The Birds are Singing for You which sadly for Jan & Mark they no longer are.

Eric sang Jacques Brel's Mon Enfance or My Childhood and then later Not Wasted referring to his own life and times no doubt. Dave Pugh again deighted us with his great guitar technique on Huw William's Summer Before the War and then Sally Gee after which we counted his fingers since he always seems to have more than the rest of us. Stewart then made his debut with May Gaia Hold You and then Ron Trueman Border's Chocolate before Ruth played and sang Tom Paxton's Last Thing on My Mind and her own Grandmother's Lament. Moving swiftly on another old friend Isobel also made her first appearance at Sale and stunned us all with her brilliant recorder playing. Henry's Cat and The Rabbit, two Hornpipes, started us off and we were Crossing the Minch with much triple tonguing more soon please.

This was nothing compared when compared with Rob's rousing Alabama and the very, very expensive version of The Grey Funnel Line which he downloaded from the internet at 2.30am after 15 pints of ale only to find his credit card had been later used to join a few porn sites. Returning to sanity which, happily for the rest of us, is not easily possible after Rob, Zoe sang her own composition The Wise Maid and played and sang about the American Wake, which was held for persons leaving Ireland for Amerikay, just before 11.30 pm so that she could run and catch her last bus. Needless to say a lift was offered so she could stay and didn't miss Carl's great version of Harvey Andrews Hello Hans and his own deeply philosophical When Fate & Circumstance Collide.

Well maintaining the standard set this night Richard & Inga, Idle Dawn, sang and fiddled Metaphor and towards the end a love song called Hell both self-penned and which certainly made us think. More debutants were The Marmalade Band, Helen, Marian and Claire, who opened the second half playing Egons & Ballydesmonds and just as they had arrived late they left us early but more from them hopefully!

Finally Sue and Ed tried to capture the Irish lead up to St Patrick's with a stirring rendition of Lanagan's Ball with Ed suitably accompanied by Sue playing the bodhran and singing beautifully of which we need to hear more. Specially requested the general rabble were then urged by Don & Heather to Lay Down The Borrowed Guitar and sing themselves homewards.

Newsletter No 19 - 3 March 2009

On the day that we received great coverage in the Folk North West Magazine together with our full page advert, very impressive, we also had another Tuesday Acoustic Night with a great array of talent from the USA, Canada and many parts of England.

With Don & Heather at the helm we set about our customary eclectic mix of traditional, modern and self-penned masterpieces. Richard led from the front with Pit Boots and followed up with Rocking the Cradle and the tongue twisting Good To The Barley Mow, west country version of an old theme which brought a rousing cheer. Kath & Stan continued with Hard Times, Wildwood Flower and Quare Bungle Rye before the second banjo in the hands of Zoe Mulford accompanied her on Wild Rose of the Mountain. Ann also stayed trad with Sophie Legg and a beautiful rendition of Honiton Lace followed by Ruth's Hard Times Cotton Mill Girl. Finally JJ slipped in late to give us Young Banker.

Then it was on to the middle ground full of songs written contemporaneously to sound traditional. Don & Heather kicked off with Spanish Burgundy by Tom Russell and Roseville Fair by Bill Staines and then Ged maintained the flavour of America with My Peg an' Awl and The Last Minstrel Show both of unknown origin and finally Desperadoes Waiting For A Train by Guy Clark. Sanibel from John was by Denny Sarokin and Pepper Street's Dirty Old Town was a Ewan MacColl and Cruel has been attributed by Kate Rusby to Lucy. Edward Harrigan wrote Rob's Muldoon - A Solid Man and Ron Angel wrote the Chemical Worker's song. Carl pushed away his cold symptoms to sing Jez Lowe's Galloways about the retired, blind pit ponies.

This week humour again rested in the capable hands of Derrick whose 25 Reasons I Owe My Mother and Clogs brought the house down as did Zoe's Princess and The Frog. Rob wasn't to be left out with All's Well by Trevor Morton in which the father warns his son not to get too close to young women he might have sired until his mother enlightens him by asking, "Do you think that thi' dad is thi' faither?"

As usual there was full complement of self-penned songs all of which give us some insight into the composers themselves. Don & Heather's Streetchild, Mick's Another Old Do Gooder's Tale and Ruth's heartrending He Was The World To Me and Different People Now were all very revealing. Finally Lorelei Loveridge, our visitor from Canada, entertained us royally with some from her latest album of which I Need To Go and Home Is Where The Heart Is, accompanied by Zoe Mulford, were outstanding.